What share of workers in Chalatenango are women?

Women were 33.3% of employed people in Chalatenango at the 2024 census (24,275 of 72,992), 3rd lowest of 14 among departments (national 40.7%).

Economy, jobs and prices in Chalatenango, El Salvador: official figures

The 2024 census counted 72,992 employed people aged 10 and over in Chalatenango, equal to 45.5% of everyone that age, 5th lowest of 14 among departments (national 48.8%).

Unemployment rate (EHPM 2022)

4.4%

2022

Employed people (Census 2024)

72,992

2024

What is the unemployment rate in Chalatenango?

The BCR household survey found an unemployment rate of 4.4% in Chalatenango in 2022, joint 3rd lowest of 14 among departments (national 5.0%).

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

How many hours do people work in Chalatenango?

Of employed people in Chalatenango who gave their hours, 45.9% worked more than 44 hours a week in the 2024 census, 3rd highest of 14 among departments (national 39.4%).

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

How many people in Chalatenango work part-time hours?

14.3% of employed people in Chalatenango worked under 25 hours a week in the 2024 census, 6th lowest of 14 among departments (national 12.7%).

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

How many homes in Chalatenango have electricity?

93.8% of the 59,488 private dwellings counted in Chalatenango in the 2024 census used the public electricity supply, 2nd highest of 14 among departments (national 90.7%).

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

How many homes in Chalatenango have no electricity?

2.14% of dwellings in Chalatenango had no electricity at the 2024 census (1,271 homes), 3rd lowest of 14 among departments (national 2.34%); 0.51% relied on solar panels (national 0.35%).

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

How Chalatenango compares with other departments

Employed people as a share of population aged 10 and over (2024)

Chalatenango ranks 10 of 14, highest first.

Rank	Region	Employed people as a share of population aged 10 and over
7	San Miguel	47.0%
8	San Vicente	46.2%
9	Usulutan	45.8%
10	Chalatenango	45.5%
11	Ahuachapan	45.4%
12	Morazan	42.9%
13	Cabanas	42.4%

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

Unemployment rate (EHPM 2022) (2022)

Chalatenango ranks 12 of 14, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate (EHPM 2022)
8	Santa Ana	5.1%
9	Ahuachapan	4.9%
10	San Salvador	4.7%
11	La Libertad	4.4%
12	Chalatenango	4.4%
13	Cuscatlan	4.3%
14	La Paz	4.2%

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

Employed people working more than 44 hours a week (2024)

Chalatenango ranks 3 of 14, highest first.

Rank	Region	Employed people working more than 44 hours a week
1	Ahuachapan	47.7%
2	Sonsonate	47.1%
3	Chalatenango	45.9%
4	Cuscatlan	45.7%
5	Cabanas	44.0%
6	Santa Ana	41.6%
7	La Paz	41.0%

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

Employed people working under 25 hours a week (2024)

Chalatenango ranks 9 of 14, highest first.

Rank	Region	Employed people working under 25 hours a week
6	San Miguel	16.0%
7	Ahuachapan	14.5%
8	La Paz	14.4%
9	Chalatenango	14.3%
10	Cuscatlan	12.7%
11	Sonsonate	12.1%
12	Santa Ana	12.0%

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

Dwellings on the public electricity supply (2024)

Chalatenango ranks 2 of 14, highest first.

Rank	Region	Dwellings on the public electricity supply
1	San Salvador	96.0%
2	Chalatenango	93.8%
3	Cabanas	93.7%
4	Santa Ana	91.7%
5	San Miguel	90.5%
6	La Libertad	90.2%
7	La Union	90.0%

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

Dwellings with no electricity (2024)

Chalatenango ranks 12 of 14, highest first.

Rank	Region	Dwellings with no electricity
8	Cuscatlan	2.71%
9	Santa Ana	2.40%
10	Cabanas	2.27%
11	San Miguel	2.17%
12	Chalatenango	2.14%
13	La Libertad	2.04%
14	San Salvador	0.74%

Source: Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC) · saved copy

More on Chalatenango: overview · education and schools · El Salvador

Sources

Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: poblacion de 10 anos o mas economicamente activa ocupada por departamento, edad, horas trabajadas y sexo (TAB_CE_4), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e572eea5da5c…)
Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Encuesta de Hogares de Propositos Multiples 2022: resultados (Tabla 1.1 poblacion y densidad; Graficos 2.3 y 4.7), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 584a21f9c420…)
Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) / Oficina Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (ONEC): Censo 2024: viviendas particulares segun tipo de suministro de energia electrica por departamento (TAB_VIV_19), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 444e5f1e904c…)

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